A Year In Macro Photography

Our recent chat about macros on a podcast Shuttertime with Sid and Mac has given me an idea for this post.  We were talking about the fact that it is easy to shoot macros all year round, for it doesn't requite taking any long trips to exotic places or getting up at a crack of dawn. All you need is a decent macro lens or extension tubes, a few plants in your backyard or a trip to the park with your family and you can always find something interesting to shoot. Whether it is a cool plant, a bug or a spider web there really always is something out there to take pictures of. As long as you find an interesting angle or a colourful background  you can came back home with tons of gorgeous shots.  I start the year with a trip to one of the neighbourhood nurseries in early May, before our outdoor planters can be filled safely with growing things.  It is always a great pleasure to look at all the beautifully colourful flowers just waiting for the weather to warm up enough for safe planting and the bugs are usually there as well. A couple of hours of being lost in such surroundings and I come back home with a memory card full of shots.   Here is a few of such spring shots that kept me happy over the recent years before the outside world turned green:

Then, things are starting to bloom outside and I start taking my camera out and about to see what new things are showing up out there.  I have shared some spring images I took close by in my post Spring 2013 so I'm going to just include a couple of more recent shots today:

During the podcast we have mentioned the fact that having an interestingly coloured background makes a difference. Here is an example - a couple of shots of the same spider web covered in dew and how the angle of the shot, utilizing different colours of the background, makes a difference:

Summer! Ah.. This is a macro photographer's paradise.. Over the last couple of years I have gathered so many wonderful shots and they've kept me very happy during long winter months..

There is always something magical in catching reflections in water droplets.. You can see the whole world inside a drop if you find a proper angle. It's always so much fun!!! And if you don't want to bother with these there is always the occasional trip into the country. I try always to take my macro lens with me. You never know what you'll find on such an outing..

And if you are tired of all that colour, you can always play a bit with an image and come up with something like that:

Fall has it's own pleasurable moments with it's fogs turning into frost and covering all and a wonderful soft, warm light.  There is always something that catches my eye..

During winter months I try to find something at home that can be photographed. Whether it is my son's guitar or a flower that was given to me, it makes not very big difference except it is not always easy to get good, strong light inside. I still go out and explore if I can. It may be cold, but if the weather conditions are right one can find little treasures outside, such as a couple of snowflakes (I've shared a few of those in my post Beauty of a Snowflake - Part 3) or frost covered foliage:

So keep on shooting guys.  There is really no need for long trips to exotic locations and you don't need too much time . Just a few minutes here and there. Cool stuff can be found everywhere!!

Kasia

Freezing Morning in the Park..

It was bloody freezing this morning in the park, where we went to shoot a foggy sunrise. The temperatures dropped to -22 degrees Celsius and the fog made it feel even colder. But the sky was blue and the sun was rising so we went for a very long walk and took a lot of pictures. By the time we've gotten back into our vehicle I could barely feel some of my fingers and toes, not mentioning my frozen face.. Oh, well.. I think, it was still worth it! ;D Here is a few of the shots I took this morning and, though, it is not spring yet, for which I am terribly sorry, the world is looking mighty wonderful today! :D Kasia

Winter Sunrise with Hoar Frost and Mists

I woke up yesterday to a promise of a beautiful sunrise.  Not having been blessed with those very often this winter I decided to go to my favorite spot by the river with my camera and see what I can find.  It was beautiful!! Cold temperatures combined with rather high humidity caused formation of hoar frost on all the trees and weeds and the beautiful pink light from the rising sun was just breathtaking.  Such a glorious morning!!! Gives us a bit of hope that the world is not such a bad place, regardless of the horrifying news coming from around it... Kasia

Winter Reflections

Blue dreams

The snow is melting again and though I know it isn't spring yet it makes me very happy!  It also allows me to enjoy a bit more some of the winter images because the hope of flowers and colours is there.  I really love macros. The details that we usually miss, being in a rush all the time, come out beautifully.  The close ups make me want to stop and enjoy the view. These pictures were taken at different times during this winter. Different light, temperature, humidity (you have seen some of the results of humid winter air in my previous posts such as the series Foggy World)  all these influence how our world looks like. Stop and take a moment to look at those beauties. They are here everywhere, but how often do you have time to look at them? Hope you enjoy! Kasia

Touch of a frost..

On the trail at sunrise 4

Weeds

Magical World.. Part 2

If it is cold enough fog produces a beautiful layer of a hoar frost on everything it touches. And if you are lucky enough the wind is not there to destroy it too quickly.  I was recently such a lucky person.  If you remember my previous post I was just there with my cameras when it was all happening and here are some more images from that magical morning when fog has covered the world and dressed it in wonderful designs. Kasia

Fall Colours - Part 2

Some time ago, in my first post of this series, I have shown you what amazing colours a mountain ash turns during fall. Today, I would like to share a few pictures I took during our trip to the Rockies in October of last year. Mac has already shared some of his images in his post Fall Leafs in Jasper and I thought, it would be nice to show you some of mine as well... When we arrived the foliage was still covered by frost, that has not managed to melt in the morning sun, but as the day grew warmer all that was left behind was amazing colour.  Here it is, the splendour of last fall in Jasper National Park.

Kasia

Foggy World - Part 3

So.. I'm still stuck on the fog... I can't seem to leave it be.. It's just that the light is too fascinating and the colours too pretty to abandon that splendour. The menacing fog, rolling around (mind you, as I've mentioned before - with the sun it wasn't that scary .. but it could be..) results in quite dramatic scenery, when processed as black and white. When you leave the colour on, the golds and oranges of sunrise paint the world beautifully.  I really hope that you still enjoy the imagery... Kasia